MP: RM800mil hub ‘too costly’
GEORGE TOWN: A proposal to build a one-stop centre costing RM800mil in Jelutong has got Jelutong MP Jeff Ooi baffled as it is equivalent to a year of the state government’s budget.
He has asked the Penang Municipal Council (MPPP) to explain the planned construction of the council’s one-stop centre at Jalan S. P. Chelliah which he said was “too expensive.”
According to Ooi, MPPP president Patahiyah Ismail made the announcement during a regular council meeting on June 29, which he added was reported in a Chinese newspaper.
“I am disappointed that the president does not even have the courtesy to call me to inform me about the latest development on the plans.
“I understand that the piece of land belongs to MPPP.
“However, as representatives voted by the people, we deserve to be informed and consulted about the plans before any announcements or decisions are made,” he said.
Ooi said this after announcing the “Irama Politik Bersama Roket” (Political Melody With Rocket) fund-raising dinner which will be held on July 22 at Han Chiang High School Hall.
Highlights of the event which will start at 7.30pm are singing performances by Jeff Ooi accompanied by a rock band as well as political talks.
“The dinner is held to raise money to help the low income group and single mothers in my area,” Ooi said. He added that the target amount for the dinner is RM250,000.
State Local Government, Traffic Management and Environment Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said the plans for the RM800mil project was a “mere proposal”. “No decision has been made yet regarding this matter,” Chow said yesterday.
Ooi also talked about criticism by some of the residents of the Jelutong area over the Jelutong waste transfer station replacing the Batu Maung station. The Batu Maung station will be closed tomorrow.
He claimed the residents were unhappy as the operator of the waste transfer station had only conducted surveys and dialogues with them for only a short period of time. He said the operator of the Batu Maung station had still not obtained consensus from the residents in Jelutong and a permit from the Department of Environment to use the Jelutong landfill as a transfer station.
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